Week #21 - Gift Cards & Free Money

So in the past I was never a fan of getting gift cards as a present. I always feel like its an easy way out for the person buying them and as stupid as this is, I feel like it puts a lot of pressure on me to do something great with the gift card and not just buy something I would have bought anyway. However, in the last 6 months my opinion on gift cards has changed!

We got a gift card to Newbury Comics from someone as a wedding gift as well as a Home Depot gift card and a prepaid Visa gift card. I also got gift certificates to the comic shop I go to every week (www.RubberChickenComics.com) from my mom and my dad for Christmas. It was thanks to those gift cards that I had money to buy comics during the time I was out of work after my gallbladder surgery. The Newbury gift card also came in handy when Record Store Day came around! So what I'm saying is that gift card are pretty cool, but do yourself a favor and don't rush out to spend them the day after you get them because they can come in handy if you save them for something special! I actually still have the Home Depot card stashed away for a future home repair!!


Speaking of gift cards, I did something pretty cool last week. We go out to dinner almost every Thursday at a small regional chain restaurant called Chelos. They are running a special right now where up till Fathers Day if you buy a $25 gift card they will give you an additional $5 gift card. Not only are there no restrictions on the additional $5 card, but they also offered to put all $30 on one card. So during dinner I went to the front desk and purchased a $30 gift card for $25 and then when the bill came after we finished eating I paid the bill with the $30 card! So I spent no more money than I would have and I got $5 for free! I will be sure to do this every time I go to Chelos until this promotion ends! Keep an eye on specials like this at places you go. They pop up mostly around Christmas, but it can happen any time!


Allrighty.... Last week I said that the check I got was my 'extra check' and that I was using it for a trip to New York with a couple of friends. I ended up with about $400 left (out of $615.36) and I'm going to deposit it into my checking account and use it to pay off my current credit card bill. There will be a little left over, but not enough to really add to any savings.

This week I got a paycheck for $627.41 ($40.00 taken out pretax for my 401K) and its going to be the 2nd check of the month that I put into my mortgage checking account. I'm going to take out $50 and put it in the 'quarterly loan repayment account' which leaves $577.41 go to towards paying the mortgage this month.

This month I also got a $40 check for a survey I did for the post office a few months ago and I got a check for $50 in 'cash back' from my credit card that gives me 2% on gas purchases & 1% on all other purchases. The post office survey was a pain in the ass, but those two things combined still mean I basically got $90 of free money! I think I'm going to just cash those checks and keep the cash in my wallet for awhile, but if I change my mind and 'save' any of it I will let you know.

I think it goes without saying, but yeah... I did my $20 vacation transfer too! And now... the weekly wrap up!


Here is the week 21 wrap up:
$40.00 to my 401K
$20.00 to my vacation fund
$50.00 in the quarterly loan payment account

Which makes the 2013 totals:

$681.06 in my 401K
$420.00 in the vacation fund
$36.00 in the piggy bank
$250.00 in the quarterly loan payment account
$75.00 in my vet bill savings
$562.82 in my money market
$562.81 in my car account

First let me remind you to be sure and join the facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/OCDSavings and contribute your own tips and hints for saving money!

For this weeks bonus I just wanna tell you not to take shit from big companies! If you buy their products or pay for their services then they owe you! I have had some pretty major issues with Sirius Satellite Radio over the years and if you complain to the right people they will give you a few months of free service or a credit on your account and there is no reason not to take advantage of that!

Last week I bought a bottle of soda at a convenience store and the minute I opened it I knew it was past the expiration date and it tasted like crap! I called the Coca-Cola 800# and told them. They asked a few questions and wanted some info off the bottle and now they are sending me some coupons for free sodas! I had also mentioned to the clerk at the store about the bad soda I bought the day before and he said he was going to look into it. Well today I went in to buy a bottle and the one up front was a fresh one and when I went to pay he said "you're all set" and I got it for free!